The holidays are upon us, and so are requests from charities. The end of the year is when many nonprofits make a final fundraising push, hoping to tap into the spirit of giving that can come with the season. For donors, end-of-year giving can also bring a welcome tax writeoff. And many support putting less under the tree and more into worthy causes. This year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday were followed up with Giving Tuesday, and idea started two years ago as an attempt to counter the commercialism of the holidays and encourage charitable giving.
On Vashon, many worthy charities encourage donations this time of year, including groups that seek to make the holidays better for the less fortunate. In fact, the food bank’s director penned a commentary this week about the extra challenges it faces this winter. Vashon Allied Arts needs to raise more money for its new arts center, and the heritage association is completing its own fundraiser to purchase a historical home. For those who have the means to give, it can be tough to know where to focus donations.
Financial experts recommend first deciding what you are passionate about — whether it’s art, education or the environment — and then choosing a charity with a clear mission statement related to that passion.
Next, if you’re not already familiar with an organization, do some research before you give. A few minutes online can reveal whether that charity is a registered nonprofit, how much money it brings in, and sometimes even how it is spent. Websites such as GuideStar and CharityNavigator give information on nonprofit organizations’ finances. According to CharityNavigator, a typical nonprofit spends 75 percent of its budget on programs and the rest on administrative costs and fundraising — anything significantly different should raise a red flag. See what you can find out about how a charity is governed and how effective it is. Look at its website and any news reports about it.
Finally, see if you can give something other than money. Oftentimes money will go the farthest in a charitable organization, but sometimes they are also desperate for volunteers or are collecting specific items. A commitment to volunteer regularly in the new year could be more valuable than a check.
Earlier this week, island tax preparer and community activist Hilary Emmer emailed out a short guide from GuideStar on choosing the right charity. As a final tip, it says to trust your instincts. You should feel good about any donations you give, not uncertain. If something doesn’t seem right, find a similar charity that you are more comfortable with.
